Sanlorenzo SL90A Yacht Review

Look again. The exterior design of Sanlorenzo’s SL90A might seem to be standard-issue Italian conservative-chic, and it is. But concealed within its sleek yet sober styling, this yacht boasts a feature that makes it one of the most radical and forward-thinking vessels in its class. It doesn’t matter how close you get, you probably won’t notice it until you’re actually on board: there’s no port side deck.

That might sound somewhat eccentric, not to mention inconvenient, but step inside and you’ll instantly see the point, as the entire length of the main saloon extends an extra two feet or so over to the port side, greatly expanding its floor area and creating a truly exceptional space that would shame a yacht 20 feet longer. Huge windows each side, glass cockpit doors, and even the showy glazed box encasing the flybridge companionway in the aft corner all combine to make the best of the daylight and the views. Headroom at 6 feet, 8 inches is not to be sniffed at either, and there is a huge TV amidships, neatly concealed behind a full-height sliding screen.

It’s not just the salon that benefits from the missing side deck. The main-deck master stateroom, a pretty, palatial suite complete with starboard side door, is accessed via a passageway on the port side and also feels significantly larger than it should. Its head, shower and dressing area can be found in the more limited spaces down forward, but with an intelligent layout and overhead glazing, they don’t feel at all confined.

The knock-on effects of the SL90’s asymmetry don’t end there. That port-side access corridor is wide enough to accommodate a substantial stowage locker as well as a day head, without robbing space from the galley, which lies on the other side of the bulkhead. The galley also has a door leading out onto the side deck, while up on the flybridge the layout is reversed, with a gate on the port side providing access from the flybridge all the way down to the foredeck. Taken together, this ensures that the crew can get to all areas of the yacht as efficiently as possible. It’s a smart piece of design, maximizing the practical benefits of the asymmetric layout while minimizing the potential inconveniences.

The wheelhouse sits on its own half-deck, above the galley, and in another intriguing design detail is open to one side and overlooks a section of the main deck As a feature it doesn’t add much, but it has pretty cool novelty value.

With a substantial master suite up on the main deck, the lower accommodation areas in the SL90A have plenty of room to breathe, with just three ensuite guest cabins provided in the standard layout. The VIP is forward to port, an amply sized cabin with plenty of stowage space and a head that extends all the way across to the -starboard side. Amidships, the symmetrical pair of double staterooms are also quite well provided with drawers and lockers, although due to the position of the main companionway there is slightly less stowage volume in the port cabin. On the other hand, it features sliding berths and can be easily converted to twins, adding useful versatility to the guest sleeping arrangements. All the berths are a good 6 feet, 3 inches long—except of course the master’s, which is a pretty generous 6 feet, 7 inches by 5 feet, 10 inches—and headroom throughout the sleeping accommodation is a comfortable 6 feet, 6 inches.

Sanlorenzo offers a variety of standard interior décors, but is also prepared to entertain a full-custom approach to the interior design. One recent client apparently requested no fewer than 600 custom mods outside the standard options list, which already encompasses all the usual high-end brands, plus a choice of numerous veneers, hardwoods, fabrics and marble.

Twin MAN V12s, boasting 2,000-horsepower each, reside in considerable comfort amidst a beautifully engineered machinery space. With those power plants, the SL90A promises to be no slouch under way. The shipyard claims a maximum speed of 29 knots. While burning an estimated 143 gallons per hour at a fast cruise of 24 knots, range is expected to be a little over 350 nautical miles.

Sanlorenzo SL90A Specifications:

LOA: 90’6”
Beam: 21’4”
Draft: 6’4”
Displ: 222,663 lb. (loaded)
Fuel: 2,378 gal.
Water: 396 gal.
Power: 2/2,000-hp MAN V12

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This article originally appeared in the June/July 2024 issue of Power & Motoryachtmagazine.

Source: https://www.powerandmotoryacht.com/cruisers/sanlorenzo-sl90a-yacht-review